172 A BEAR HUNT. 



right and left. Only one dog faced her, and he, (a 

 young one,) with more courage than discretion, rushed 

 at her throat. In a moment he was crushed beneath 

 her huge paw. Oosisoak came in upon her flank, 

 and Arkadik tore at her haunch, and the other dogs 

 followed this prudent example. She turned upon Oosi- 

 soak, and drove him from his hold ; but in this act the 

 cub was uncovered. Quick as lightning Karsuk flew 

 at its neck, and a slender yellow mongrel, that we call * 

 Schnapps, followed after ; but the little bear, imitating 

 the example of its mother, prepared to do battle. 

 Karsuk missed his grip, and Schnapps got tangled 

 among its legs. The poor dog was soon doubled up 

 with a blow in the side, and escaped yowling from 

 the melee. Oosisoak was hard pressed, but his power- 

 ful rival Erebus came to his relief, and led his fol- 

 lowers upon the opposite flank, which concentrated 

 onslaught turned the bear again in the direction of 

 her cub in time to save it ; for it was now being 

 pulled down and worried by Karsuk and his pack. 

 For a moment disregarding her own tormenters, she 

 threw herself upon the assailants of the cub, and to 

 avoid her blows they quickly abandoned their hold 

 and enabled her once more to draw the frightened 

 though plucky little creature under her. She had 

 come to the rescue at the critical moment, for the 

 poor thing was weakened with the loss of blood, and 

 was fairly exhausted with the fight. 



By this time Jensen and Hans had drawn their 

 rifles from the sledge, and hastened on to the conflict. 

 The dogs were so thick about the game that it was 

 some time before they could shoot with safety. They 

 both, however, succeeded at last in getting a fine 

 chance at the old bear, and fired. One ball struck her 



